Oh Bondage Up Yours!
Encyclopedia
"Oh Bondage Up Yours!" is the debut single by British punk rock
band X-Ray Spex
. Released in September 1977, it is regarded by critics as a prototypal example of British punk, though it was not a chart hit. A version taped on 2 April 1977 at one of the band's earliest public performances had already been issued on a live compilation album, The Roxy London WC2, in June. The anthemic song attracted wide notice and led directly to the band's first record deal—a pact with the Virgin
label for one single.
Poly Styrene
, X-Ray Spex's songwriter as well as lead vocalist, had been motivated to join the punk scene like many others as a result of attending a Sex Pistols
concert—her first encounter with the band, when she still went by Marianne Elliot-Said, was in Hastings
in early July 1976. Concerned with issues of consumerism and disposability, reflected in the name she soon adopted, she wrote "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" shortly after seeing the Pistols for a second time the following month. The lyrics combine a depiction of contemporary capitalist materialism as a brand of servitude with a "feminist [...] rallying cry". Styrene later described it as "a call for liberation. It was saying: 'Bondage—forget it! I'm not going to be bound by the laws of consumerism or bound by my own senses.' It has that line in it: 'Chain smoke, chain gang, I consume you all': you are tied to these activities for someone else's profit."
X-Ray Spex' instrumental lineup featured a saxophonist, unusual for a punk band. What made the horn player particularly stand out was that she was a girl, Susan Whitby, just 16 years old as of mid-1977. Band manager Falcon Stuart had helped convince Styrene that the presence of a second woman in the band would be a boon to their marketing. Young Whitby's "freeform" style on her horn, writes Maria Raha, often yielded "staccato wails that faded quickly, like those of a sax player whizzing by in a car". Redubbed Lora Logic
, her signature "rough rasp" would feature prominently in "Oh Bondage Up Yours!"
Richie Unterberger describes the single version's brief setup and raucous payoff:
Steve Huey describes it as "one of the most visceral moments in all of British punk", though Al Spicer considers the studio single recording a "fairly lacklustre" version.
In Gillian G. Gaar's analysis, the song "eagerly steamrolled over the idea of objectifying women by confronting the notion head on". "Where U.K. punk is known mostly for humorless rage", writes Raha, "Styrene and Logic were joyfully angry, liberated by the freedom punk afforded them." In Lauraine Leblanc's view, Styrene's compositions, and "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" in particular, exemplify the emphasis female punk artists placed on parody and paradox. As she describes, the first verse goes
Logic later gave her view of the band leader's vision: "I think Marianne felt that everyone was in a type of bondage—restricted, crushed, and alienated by modern materialistic society. The goal of our society is sense gratification—that is the only prize on offer. But one can never satisfy the senses; it is an impossible goal."
The single was very well received by critics, and though it failed to register on the charts, it made the band a subject of extensive media interest. According to Gaar, among punk aficionados the single "quickly became an essential item that found its way into every self-respecting" collection. Retrospectively, John Dougan identifies it, alongside the early recordings of the Sex Pistols and The Clash
, as "one of punk rock's defining moments". Jon Savage
similarly calls it a "deserved press sensation" and a "definitive punk snapshot". Within a few weeks of its release, Logic departed the band, apparently sacked because Styrene wanted to be the exclusive focus of attention. The band, now with a male saxophonist, signed with EMI
for its debut album, Germ Free Adolescents
, on which "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" did not appear.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex
X-Ray Spex were an English punk band from London that formed in 1976.During their first incarnation , X-Ray Spex were “deliberate underachievers” and only managed to release five singles and one album...
. Released in September 1977, it is regarded by critics as a prototypal example of British punk, though it was not a chart hit. A version taped on 2 April 1977 at one of the band's earliest public performances had already been issued on a live compilation album, The Roxy London WC2, in June. The anthemic song attracted wide notice and led directly to the band's first record deal—a pact with the Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
label for one single.
Poly Styrene
Poly Styrene
Poly Styrene was the stage name of Marianne Joan Elliott-Said , a British musician, songwriter and singer, most notably in the pioneering punk rock band X-Ray Spex.-Early life:...
, X-Ray Spex's songwriter as well as lead vocalist, had been motivated to join the punk scene like many others as a result of attending a Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
concert—her first encounter with the band, when she still went by Marianne Elliot-Said, was in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
in early July 1976. Concerned with issues of consumerism and disposability, reflected in the name she soon adopted, she wrote "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" shortly after seeing the Pistols for a second time the following month. The lyrics combine a depiction of contemporary capitalist materialism as a brand of servitude with a "feminist [...] rallying cry". Styrene later described it as "a call for liberation. It was saying: 'Bondage—forget it! I'm not going to be bound by the laws of consumerism or bound by my own senses.' It has that line in it: 'Chain smoke, chain gang, I consume you all': you are tied to these activities for someone else's profit."
X-Ray Spex' instrumental lineup featured a saxophonist, unusual for a punk band. What made the horn player particularly stand out was that she was a girl, Susan Whitby, just 16 years old as of mid-1977. Band manager Falcon Stuart had helped convince Styrene that the presence of a second woman in the band would be a boon to their marketing. Young Whitby's "freeform" style on her horn, writes Maria Raha, often yielded "staccato wails that faded quickly, like those of a sax player whizzing by in a car". Redubbed Lora Logic
Lora Logic
Lora Logic is a British saxophonist and singer. She was briefly a member of the band X Ray Spex, although she had been sacked from that group by the time they recorded their first album, which nevertheless used her saxophone arrangements. A year later she formed Essential Logic...
, her signature "rough rasp" would feature prominently in "Oh Bondage Up Yours!"
Richie Unterberger describes the single version's brief setup and raucous payoff:
"Some people say little girls should be seen and not heard," Poly Styrene solemnly intones. ... "But I think"—and then the voice suddenly rises to a scream—"OH BONDAGE UP YOURS! 1-2-3-4!"
Then the band kicks in with all the immediacy of a custard pie in the face. Fuzzy power chords and careening saxophone bleats fight it out with Styrene's half-chanted, half-sung vocals, a mixture of glee and rage that periodically trails off into caterwauling shrieks.
Steve Huey describes it as "one of the most visceral moments in all of British punk", though Al Spicer considers the studio single recording a "fairly lacklustre" version.
In Gillian G. Gaar's analysis, the song "eagerly steamrolled over the idea of objectifying women by confronting the notion head on". "Where U.K. punk is known mostly for humorless rage", writes Raha, "Styrene and Logic were joyfully angry, liberated by the freedom punk afforded them." In Lauraine Leblanc's view, Styrene's compositions, and "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" in particular, exemplify the emphasis female punk artists placed on parody and paradox. As she describes, the first verse goes
"Bind me tie me chain me to the wall / I wanna be a slave to you all!" Paradoxically, the chorus [runs]: "Oh bondage! Up yours! / Oh bondage! Come on!" As Styrene continue[s] on to the second verse, she reveal[s] that the song is not about sex, but about consumerism: "Chain store chain smoke I consume you all / Chain gang chain mail I don't think at all!" In this one utterance, Styrene transformed a seemingly masochistic plea into an indictment of consumer culture, denouncing the blind impulses of the mainstream shopper. In depicting herself as both an agent of and resister to her submission, she created a parody of both positions, juxtaposing them powerfully against each other.
Logic later gave her view of the band leader's vision: "I think Marianne felt that everyone was in a type of bondage—restricted, crushed, and alienated by modern materialistic society. The goal of our society is sense gratification—that is the only prize on offer. But one can never satisfy the senses; it is an impossible goal."
The single was very well received by critics, and though it failed to register on the charts, it made the band a subject of extensive media interest. According to Gaar, among punk aficionados the single "quickly became an essential item that found its way into every self-respecting" collection. Retrospectively, John Dougan identifies it, alongside the early recordings of the Sex Pistols and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, as "one of punk rock's defining moments". Jon Savage
Jon Savage
Jon Savage , real name Jonathon Sage, is a Cambridge-educated writer, broadcaster and music journalist, best known for his award winning history of the Sex Pistols and punk music, England's Dreaming, published in 1991.-Career:...
similarly calls it a "deserved press sensation" and a "definitive punk snapshot". Within a few weeks of its release, Logic departed the band, apparently sacked because Styrene wanted to be the exclusive focus of attention. The band, now with a male saxophonist, signed with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
for its debut album, Germ Free Adolescents
Germ Free Adolescents
Germ Free Adolescents is the debut album of English punk rock band X-Ray Spex. It contained the UK hit singles: "The Day The World Turned Day-Glo" , "Identity" and "Germ Free Adolescents" which reached No. 18 in November 1978.The album received wide acclaim upon its release...
, on which "Oh Bondage Up Yours!" did not appear.
Personnel
- Poly StyrenePoly StyrenePoly Styrene was the stage name of Marianne Joan Elliott-Said , a British musician, songwriter and singer, most notably in the pioneering punk rock band X-Ray Spex.-Early life:...
(Marianne Elliot-Said) – vocals - Lora LogicLora LogicLora Logic is a British saxophonist and singer. She was briefly a member of the band X Ray Spex, although she had been sacked from that group by the time they recorded their first album, which nevertheless used her saxophone arrangements. A year later she formed Essential Logic...
(Susan Whitby) – saxophone - Jak Airport (Jack Stafford) – guitar
- Paul Dean – bass
- B. P. Hurding – drums
Sources
- Dougan, John (2002). "X-Ray Spex", in All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul, 3d ed., ed. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Backbeat). ISBN 087930653X
- Gaar, Gillian G. (2002). She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll, 2d ed. (Seal). ISBN 1580050786
- Heylin, Clinton (2007). Babylon's Burning: From Punk to Grunge (Canongate). ISBN 1841958794
- Huey, Steve (2002). "Germ Free Adolescents", in All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul, 3d ed., ed. Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine (Backbeat). ISBN 087930653X
- Leblanc, Lauraine (1999). Pretty in Punk: Girls' Gender Resistance in a Boys' Subculture (Rutgers University Press). ISBN 0813526515
- Raha, Maria (2005). Cinderella's Big Score: Women of the Punk and Indie Underground (Seal). ISBN 1580051162
- Savage, Jon (1992). England's Dreaming: Anarchy, Sex Pistols, Punk Rock, and Beyond (St. Martin's). ISBN 0312087748
- Spicer, Al (2003). "X-Ray Spex", in The Rough Guide to Rock, 3d ed., ed. Peter Buckley (Rough Guides). ISBN 1843531054
- Tyler, Kieron (2005). Liner notes to Germ Free Adolescents [X-Ray Spex] (Castle 36202-2).
- Unterberger, Richie (1998). Unknown Legends of Rock 'n' Roll: Psychedelic Unknowns, Mad Geniuses, Punk Pioneers, Lo-Fi Mavericks & More (Backbeat). ISBN 0879305347